Sir John Suckling Poems

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Sir John Suckling
Sir John Suckling as painted by VanDyckSir John Suckling (February 10, 1609–June 1, 1642) was an English Cavalier poet whose best known poem may be "Ballad Upon a Wedding". He was born at Whitton, in the parish of Twickenham, Middlesex, and baptized there on February 10, 1609. His father was Sir John Suckling, a courtier and his mother was Elizabeth Cranfield, sister of Sir Lionel Cranfield, 1st Earl of Middlesex. The poet inherited his father's estate at the age of eighteen. He went to Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1623, and was entered at Gray's Inn in 1627. He was intimate with Thomas Carew, Richard Lovelace, Thomas Nabbes and especially with John Hales and Sir William Davenant, who later furnished John Aubrey with information about his friend. In 1628 he left London to travel in France and Italy, returning before the autumn of 1630, when he was knighted. In 1631 he volunteered for the force raised by the marquess of Hamilton to serve under Gustavus Adolphus in Germany. He was back at Whitehall in May 1632; but during his short service he had been present at the Battle of Breitenfeld and in many sieges. His poetic talent was only one of many accomplishments, but it commended him especially to Charles I and his queen, Henrietta Maria. He says of himself ("A Sessions of the Poets") that he "prized black eyes or a lucky hit at bowls above all the trophies of wit." He was the best card-player and the best bowler at court. Aubrey says that he invented the game of cribbage, and relates that his sisters came weeping to the bowling green at Piccadilly to dissuade him from play, fearing that he would lose their portions.

alas! so all things now do hold their peace
 
 
Alas! so all things now do hold their peace,
Heaven and earth disturbed in nothing.
The be... [read poem]
love that doth reign and live within my thought
 
 
Love that doth reign and live within my thought
And built his seat within my captive breast,... [read poem]
so cruel prison
 
 
So cruel prison how could betide, alas,
As proud Windsor? Where I in lust and joy
With a k... [read poem]
a ballad upon a wedding
 
 
I tell thee, Dick, where I have been,
Where I the rarest things have seen;
Oh, thing... [read poem]
the things that cause a quiet life
 
 
My friend, the things that do attain
The happy life be these, I find:
The riches left, not... [read poem]
the soote season, that bud and bloom forth brings
 
 
The soote season, that bud and bloom forth brings,
With green hath clad the hill and eke the va... [read poem]
the frailty and hurtfulness of beauty
 
 
Brittle beauty, that nature made so frail,
Whereof the gift is small, and short the season;... [read poem]
london, hast thou accused me
 
 
London, hast thou accused me
Of breach of laws, the root of strife?
Within whose breast di... [read poem]
a praise of his love
 
 
Give place, ye lovers, here before
That spent your boasts and brags in vain;
My lady's bea... [read poem]
psycholophon
 
 
(Supposed to Be Translated from the Old Parsee)

Twine then the rays
Round her soft... [read poem]
from tuscan came my lady's worthy race
 
 
From Tuscan came my lady's worthy race;
Fair Florence was sometime her ancient seat.
The w... [read poem]
the golden gift that nature did thee give
 
 
The golden gift that Nature did thee give
To fasten friends and feed them at thy will
With... [read poem]
lady surrey's lament for her absent lord
 
 
Good ladies, you that have your pleasure in exile,
Step in your foot, come take a place, an... [read poem]
of the death of sir t. w. the elder
 
 
Wyatt resteth here, that quick could never rest;
Whose heavenly gifts increased by disdain,... [read poem]
certain books of virgil's {ae}neis: book ii
 
 
They whisted all, with fixed face attent,
When Prince Æneas from the royal seat
Thus... [read poem]
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